Football dummy



April 16, 1940. c. w. BACHMAN T A1. 2,197,545

FOOTBALL DUMMY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 5l, 1958 GAMES. 55

'Search 300m April 16, 1940. c. w. BACHMAN ET Al.

FOOTBALL DUMMY Filed Oct. 3l, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES Search R FOOTBALL DUMMY Charles W. Bachman and Ward A. Davenport,

East Lansing, Mich.

, assignors to Michigan State Board of Agriculture, East Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 31, 1938, Serial No. 237,832

6 Claims.

This invention relates to football practice devices, and more particularly to dummies for use in teaching and practicing the fundamentals of football, such as blocking and tackling.

An object of the invention is to provide devices of this character which simulate the action of opposing players when blocked or tackled in an actual game.

Another object is to provide devices of this type which are of simple and rugged construction, and which may be readily set up in position or taken down for storage.

Other objects will become apparent in the following specification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a blocking dummy;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the blocking dummy showing its normal position in full lines, and its deflected position in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of dummy used for tackling;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 5 5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the tackling dummy.

The modification shown in Figures 1 to 3 is used primarily for teaching and practicing the blocking of opposing players in an actual game. The backbone of the dummy is a hollow metal core I0. The lower end of the core I0 is inserted in a bore in a heavy metal base II, and preferably welded thereto. The base is an annulus, the cross section of which is clearly shown in Figure l. The lower end of the base II is substantially hemispherical in shape, so that it may rock on a suitable support. The base II is provided with an annular groove I2 for a purpose which will presently appear.

At the upper end of the core is a metal plate I3 provided with an annular depending flange I4 which surrounds and is permanently secured, as by welding, to the core I0. Adjacent the periphery of the plate I3 is a plurality of angularly spaced elongated slots I5. The plate is also perforated at angularly spaced intervals to .f

receive a plurality of valve ttings I6 similar to ordinary tire valves.

Surrounding the core I0 is padding I 1 composed of felt or similar material. This padding extends down into and fills the recess Ila in the base II of the dummy. A plurality of inflatable pneumatic bags I8, preferably formed of rubber, are enclosed in fabric sacks and are placed around the felt padding I1 in the manner shown particularly in Figure 1. Each of these pneumatic bags has a valve stem I9 to which is attached an extension tube 20. These tubes 20 pass upwardly between the core II) and the pneumatic bags and are secured to the valve fittings I6 in the top plate I3 of the dummy. 'I'he pneumatic bags may be easily inflated by introducing air from a pump in the usual manner.

A plurality of heavy canvas straps 22 are passed through the slots I5 in the top plate I3 and secured thereto. A metal plate 23 is permanently attached to the lower end of each strap 22. The plates 23 are apertured for the reception of screws 24 which are received in threaded recesses 25 in the base II in order that the straps may be suitably axed to the base.

A canvas cover 26 of substantially cylindrical form is placed over the entire dummy. The cover extends down over a portion of the base and past the annular groove I2 therein. The upper end of the cover has an opening 26a to allow access to the valves I6. A retaining ring 21 o1' metal is clamped about the covering 26 and holds it tightly in the groove I2 in the base.

A cap of heavy canvas or leather covers the upper end of the dummy and extends downwardly a short distance on the sides. This cap fits snugly over the dummy but is removable to provide access to the valves I6 through the opening 26a.

The dummy rests on a supporting plate 29. This plate has a fiat top surface which is apertured at the center at 3U, and welded or otherwise secured to a depending metal pipe 3|. Inserted transversely through the walls of the pipe is a pin 32, the ends of the pin being peened over to hold it securely in place. A helical tension spring 34a is attached at its lower end to the pin 32 and extends upwardly therefrom a short distance. A chain 33 is attached at its lower end to the upper end of the spring 34a and extends upwardly into the hollow tubular core I0. The lower end of a second helical tension spring 34 is attached to the upper end of the chain 33. 'I'he upper end of the spring 34 is welded to a metallic block 35 which is provided at its center with a tapped hole into which a long bolt 36 is threaded. This bolt passes through an aperture 31 in the top plate I3. The head of the bolt prevents it from passing through the aperture 31. It will be apparent that the tension of the spring may be readily adjusted by rotating the bolt 36 in one direction or the other.

If desired either the upper spring 34 or the lower spring 34a may be dispensed with. In such cases the chain would be connected directly to the pin 32 or the block 35, depending upon which spring is eliminated.

A pedestal 38 of concrete or similar material is set in the ground at the point where the dummy is to be used. The top surface of the pedestal 38 is substantially flush with the surface of the surrounding ground. A vertical hole is provided in the concrete pedestal which is preferably lined with a metal pipe 39 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the pipe 3|. The dummy may be readily set up on the pedestal by inserting the tube 3| in the pipe 39 with the plate 29 resting on the top surface of the pedestal 38. The above described supporting device makes it a simple matter to set up the dummy or take it down for storage.

The spring 34 is always under tension so that there is a continual force exerted on the dummy to pull it against the supporting plate 29 and thereby hold it in upright position. Due to the hemispherical lower surface of the base the dummy may be rocked on this plate 29 to a tilted position, such as that shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, but because of the tension of the spring, as soon as any force which tends to overturn the dummy is released, the latter will return to its vertical position. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the device described constitutes a very effective means for teaching the fundamentals of blocking and charging in the game of football. The dummy is resilient and yields readily when struck, thereby making it exceedingly safe to use.

The modification shown in Figures 4 to 6 is somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, but is mounted differently, and is used primarily as a tackling dummy. 'I'he hollow tubular core 5l) in this structure is preferably made of rubber so as to be somewhat flexible. At the upper and lower ends of the core are end plates 5| and 52 respectively, similar to plate I3 in the previously described construction. They are provided'with annular flanges 54 and 56. Short lengths of pipe 53 and 55 are secured at one end to the plates 5| and 52 and are in spaced but concentric relation to the anges 54 and 58 respectively. I'he ends of the core 50 are inserted between the walls of the pipes 53 and 55 and the flanges 54 and 56. The core is held in place by hooks 51 and 58 which pass through holes in the plates 52 and 5|. The upper hook 58 is threaded and provided with an adjusting nut 62. The hooked ends 59 and 60 of the hooks 51 and 58 are secured to the ends of a chain 6|, and the chain pulled taut by tightening the nut 62.

Surrounding the core 50 are a plurality of pneumatic bags 63 covered with individual canvas sacks 64. These pneumatic bags 63 are in all respects identical to the pneumatic bags I8 in the previously described modication. Each bag has an individual valve extension 65 which extends up through a hole in the top plate 5| and is secured to a valve fitting G6 whereby the bags may be readily inflated.

Long canvas straps 86a are attached to both plates 5| and 52 in the same manner as the straps 22 are secured to the plate |3 in the modication of Figures l to 3. As shown, the straps are looped through elongated apertures 6l and 68 in the respective end plates. The end plates are covered with a sheet of padding 69, such as felt or the like, and over the entire structure is a heavy canvas covering The lower end of the dummy is encased in a. cap '|I of leather or heavy canvas.

The dummy shown in this modication is primarily designed to be suspended from an overhead support. In order to properly suspend the dummy, 4 metal rings 12 are attached to the looped ends 13 of a like number of canvas straps 14 stitched or' otherwise secured to the outer covering 10. Inserted in these rings '|2 are a like number of short chains 13, the upper ends of which are joined and connected to a single metal ring 15. This ring may be suspended from any suitable support.

Due to the flexible construction of the core, the dummy shown in Figures 4 to 6 is capable of bending to a certain extent, thereby eliminating any tendency to rebound when struck by a player tackling it. 1

It will be apparent that the modications disclosed herein are susceptible of considerable variation in design, and consequently the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member having a flat supporting surface and a retaining post extending therefrom adapted to be removably received in a pedestal, a padded dummy having a rounded base supported on said flat surface for rocking movement relative thereto, a hollow core extending substantially through said dummy, an opening through said base, and a flexible tension member secured at one end to said post and at the other end within said core for attaching said dummy to the supporting member.

2. The combination set forth in claim l wherein the tension member consists of a flexible chain attached at one end to the supporting post and at the other end to a tension spring, the free end of said tension spring being secured to said core.

3. A device of the class described comprising a substantially rigid core, end members secured to opposite ends of said core, padding surrounding said core, and a plurality of angularly spaced straps connected at their ends to opposite end members and retaining said padding in place, and an outer cover covering said straps and at least one end member.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the padding includes a plurality of inatable pneumatic tubes.

5. A device of the class described comprising a substantially rigid core, end members secured to opposite ends of said core, a plurality of aper tures in one of said end members, padding surrounding said core, said padding including a plurality of inflatable pneumatic tubes, a valve extension extending from each of said pneumatic tubes and being received in one of the apertures in said end member, a plurality of angularly spaced straps connected at their ends to opposite end members and retaining said padding in place, and an outer cover over said straps and at least one of said end members.

6. A device of the character described comprising a tubular core, end members secured to opposite ends of said core and having portions extending radially outwardly a substantial distance from said core, padding surrounding said core and located between said end members, a plurality of straps secured at opposite ends to the end members adjacent the peripheries of the latter and retaining the padding in place, and an outer covering over said straps.

CHARLES W. BACHMAN. WARD A. DAVENPORT.

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